GRAMINEAE 29 



1. B. erucaeformis (L.) Host. RATTLESNAKE GRASS. Panicle 6' 

 long : spikes 12" long or less : spikelets 1-flowered, \" long. One plant 

 found on the river bank near Courtney. June-July. 



34. ELEUSINE Gaertn. 



Spikelets several-flowered, closely imbricated in two rows on one side 

 of the rachis, thus forming spikes of which there are several close together 

 at the top of the culm. Glumes awnless, keeled, the two lower empty, 

 the upper flower-bearing. 



1. E. Indica (L. ) Gaertn. YARD GRASS. A decumbent or erect an- 

 nual, 2 or less tall : spikes 3-6, 2 / -4 / long, spreading : spikelets about 

 2 /x long, 3-6-flowered. A common weed in waste places throughout. 

 July-October. 



35. LEPTOCHLOA Beauv. 



Spikelets alternate in two rows on side of a long filiform rachis, form- 

 ing loosely-flowered spikes, the spikes racemed Spikelets 2-many-flow- 

 ered. Two lower glumes empty, keeled. Flowering glume 3-nerved, 

 longer than the palet. 



1. L. attenuata Nutt. 8'-3 high, with numerous flat, sparingly 

 villous leaves : spikes 20-60 : spikelets about 3-flowered, ] /x long : empty 

 glumes strongly mucronate, usually exceeding the flower : nerves of flow- 

 ering glumes sparsely pubescent. In damp soil in the Missouri River 

 bottoms from Sheffield to Sibley ; Dodson. Rather uncommon. August- 

 October. 



36. FHRAGMITES Trin. 



Tall reed-like perennials with long running rootstocks and with numer- 

 ous broad flat leaves. Spikelets .in a large terminal panicle, 3-7- flowered. 

 Two lower glumes empty and unequal, the third either neutral or stami- 

 nate, the remaining flowers perfect. Small palets and flowering glumes 

 slender and membranous. 



1. P. communis Trin. REED. 5-20 high : panicle often 1 long, 

 with ascending branches. In low grounds, along the Missouri River. 

 Uncommon and usually not flowering. August-October. 



37. SIEGLINGIA Bernh. 



Terminal flower often sterile. Two lower glumes empty, keeled. 

 Flowering glume rounded, three-nerved, with nerves hairy, and three- 

 toothed at the apex, the nerves, especially the mid-nerve, excurrent 

 as small awns. Palet broad, 2-keeled. 



Panicle large and spreading, with numerous spikelets. 1. S. seslerioides. 

 Panicle small and simple, few-flowered. 2. S.purpurea. 



1. S. seslerioides (Michx.) Scribn. TALL RED-TOP GRASS. A showy 

 perennial, 3-5 high, with long pointed narrow leaves : panicle 9'-15' 

 long : spikelets purple, S"-^' long, about 6-flowered. Common in dry 

 open grounds throughout. July-September. 



